I still told it honestly. I said that I owed Boss Huang from the farmer's market in the county more than 20,000 yuan, and I had to pay it back within a month.
But all the land in our village has been occupied, and we have no way to reclaim the land to grow fruits and vegetables.
Later, I heard the villagers tell me the real reason, and I felt that this was inappropriate.
Patriarch Zhou laughed again after hearing this. He sighed and said: "Actually, we all have your thoughts, but no one dares to come forward. After decades, do you know how Cheng Xiaohu's parents died?
"
I stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
He smiled coquettishly and said, "It's because you stood up and talked about peace like you did today. Of course, I don't know who was killed, and no one is going to pursue this matter. We are all farmers, and we can't afford to offend him."
Cheng Lu told me at first that her parents died while cutting firewood in the mountains.
It seems that they themselves don't know how their parents died. It turns out that it was because they came forward to make peace.
Before I could speak, Patriarch Zhou sighed again: "You are right today. We also want to break this rule, but no one dares to step forward!"
I wondered: "Why?"
"Didn't you tell me before? This grudge has been going on for decades. Didn't the villagers of Yulin Village tell you?"
I shook my head and said, "They didn't explain it clearly. They just said that there was a dispute between your two townships decades ago, and this rule came into being after that."
"Yes, you're right," he nodded. "Actually, we don't know the specific reason, but this rule has been around for decades, and everyone has become a habit, so it's a stalemate."
"Then where are you taking me now?"
But he remained silent and didn't speak. I pondered for a while and then said, "I want to ask more, does the government not care about the demarcation of water areas?"
"Control? Why should we control it? If we could control it, we would not be in the current situation long ago."
"Do you know why?"
I think the problem must lie in it. As long as this problem is solved, we can solve the problem of water division that has not been solved for decades!
It took me a full hour to arrive at Shuanglong Township. You can imagine how troublesome it is for the farmers here to farm in the back mountains. Of course, it is equally troublesome for the farmers in Yulin Village to farm here.
Patriarch Zhou took me back to his home, untied me, and brought me a bowl of millet porridge to fill my stomach.
He said to me: "After finishing this bowl of porridge, you can go back by yourself!"
"Why do you want to let me go?" I was stunned and asked him doubtfully.
Patriarch Zhou smiled slowly and said, "I brought you here just to hear what you have to say."
"Then what?" I still looked at him puzzled.
"You are a brave person, you know? After all these years, except for the Cheng family's parents in Yulin Village who came out to negotiate and reconcile fifteen years ago, you are still the first person to stand up and mention this matter."
As he spoke, he sighed heavily: "Actually, we villagers think so, but we have no say!"
"Then who has the final say?"
"It's not who has the final say, but" Clan Leader Zhou suddenly sighed.
I frowned and asked, "What is it?"
He sighed again and continued: "In fact, it is about interests. As long as the villagers on both sides agree, then naturally the matter will be solved. But the problem is that there are always people who disagree. What can I do?"
I was stunned and said, "Will this matter be solved once the villagers have benefits?"
"That's understandable."
I fell silent and already had an idea in my mind. Of course, this idea also required the cooperation of the villagers in the two villages.
I immediately said to Patriarch Zhou: "Chief Zhou, I can't just let this matter go. We must solve it. Maybe this is also related to why the prices of agricultural products in the county market are so tightly controlled. I want to discuss this matter.
The things must be related."
Patriarch Zhou frowned and said, "How do you know that the prices of agricultural products in the county have been controlled?"
"I went to the county town to sell things. Do you remember what I said before that I owed Boss Huang more than 20,000 yuan?"
Patriarch Zhou squinted his eyes and seemed to be thinking. After a while, he nodded and said, "This boss Huang is not easy to mess with! How could he lend you money?"
"Don't ask about this. Anyway, I have a solution now, but I need your cooperation, Chief Zhou."
When Patriarch Zhou heard me say there was a way, he seemed to be interested. He took a breath and immediately asked me, "What way? You tell me."
After thinking for a long time, I finally said: "Actually, I had this idea early on. What I thought was that the villagers in our two villages will sell their agricultural products to me in the future, and the price will still be the same as usual retail prices. I will do this."
The middleman ensures that the villagers on both sides can generate good profits. Chief Zhou, do you think it is appropriate?"
After listening to what I said, Patriarch Zhou was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses. He smiled bitterly and said, "How could you come up with such a method?"
"I thought of it last time when I went to the market to sell things. Today I heard you say that as long as the villagers in both villages can generate income, everyone can break the deadlock. I thought, this might be a good idea."
Patriarch Zhou smiled and said, "Don't you think you are a little overestimating your abilities?"
I am silent.
Patriarch Zhou asked again: "Let me ask you first, where did you get the money to buy so many agricultural products? You have to know that there are more than 360 households in our Shuanglong Township alone, not counting your Qinglong Township."
I said in a serious voice: "So, I have to ask Patriarch Zhou for help."
"How can I help you?"
"Help me tell this matter in front of the villagers in your village. It can also be regarded as a guarantee for me. As long as I dispose of these agricultural products, I will distribute the money to everyone as soon as possible."
Patriarch Zhou frowned: "Why should I trust you, a foreigner?"
"Clan Chief Zhou, I am doing this for the benefit of the villagers on both sides!"
Patriarch Zhou suddenly fell silent. After a while, he asked me again: "If you didn't dispose of the agricultural products sold to you by the fishermen, how would you explain it to the big guys?"
This is indeed not an easy task for me, but for anything that is not easy, you must take the first step.
I vowed to say: "Clan Chief Zhou, please rest assured that I can not only handle these agricultural products, but I also want to create a brand that will be praised by people outside when they hear that it is our brand."
Patriarch Zhou laughed and said, "You are really talented!"
I smiled and said, "Clan Chief Zhou, do you agree with what I said?"
Patriarch Zhou sighed and said, "It doesn't matter whether I agree or not. This requires your Patriarch Liu from Qinglong Township to agree first. If he agrees, I will promise to help you."
I didn't hesitate, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."
Patriarch Zhou then reminded again: "Let me tell you first, Patriarch Liu is not as easy to talk to as me."
Things have come to this point, and if I still fear the tiger, I really won't be able to accomplish anything.
Under the guidance of Patriarch Zhou, I got on the tractor back to Qinglong Village.
Patriarch Zhou also told me the address of Patriarch Liu and told me to go directly to him to discuss the matter. If the negotiation can be successful, he will help me notify all the fishermen to cooperate with me.